Dispensing valve structure for aerosol container



DISPENSING VALVE STRUCTURE FR AEROSOL CONTAINER 7%?572- JQZ, WWW/ United States Patent DISPENSING VALVE STRUCTURE FOR AEROSOL CONT AMR Albert B. Campbell, Bensenvilie, lll., assigner to Campbell Products Co., a corporation of illinois Application .lune 30, 1952, Serial No. 296,359

4 Claims. (Cl. 222-394) This invention relates to a valve structure, and more particularly to a dispensing valve structure for an aerosol container.

The use of aerosol dispensing units is currently becoming more and more prevalent. They are used extensively to dispense whipping cream, shaving lather and similar materials. The aerosol unit consists of a container portion and a dispensing valve meachanism of some type. Containers ranging in size from six fluid ounces to sixteen uid ounces are generally used and the dispensing valves vary in size and in mode of operation. Basically, the operation consists of unseating a valve by horizontal or vertical pressure which allows the ingredients within the container, activated by the pressure therein, to rush by the value to the outside. A relatively small proportion of the contents of a container is discharged each time it is used, for example, enough whipping cream is dispensed to decorate desserts or sufficient lather is emitted for shaving purposes. When the valve operating pressure is released, the valve reseats itself and once again restricts the escaping contents and pressure within the container. The present invention pertains only to a valve structure for regulating the iiow of ingredients from an aerosol container, and is not concerned with the container or the ingredients therein.

One of the chief difficulties in using these dispensers is in keeping the valve structure clean after usage. The problem is particularly acute when dairy products, mainly cream, are dispensed. After each use of the dispenser an amount of cream remains exposed to the air between the valve and the delivery nozzle of the dispenser. This cream solidities when the intervening period between uses is sufficiently prolonged. This is objectionable from a sanitation standpoint, and such excess solidified cream may interfere with the operation of the valve unit. During the next discharge of the container, this excess cream will be emitted and it renders the whipping cream less appetizing. Furthermore, it is a well-known fact that bacteria thrive in an exposed ingredient such as cream.

'Ihe importance of lthe health problem created by this residue of cream is obvious. None of the dispensers currently used has a method for cleaning out the spouts and nozzles after operation. The present invention provides an economical, durable and dependable valve structure which may be maintained in a sanitary condition at all times. This invention has a spout cap which can be removed after the container has been used to expose the excess material remaining within the valve housing and around the emitting orice. This material can easily be washed otf in running water while the tightly sealed valve prevents entry of the water into the contents of the dispenser. The container may then be put away for use at a later time in the same neat and clean condition as when it was purchased.

This invention will be described as related to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of applicants inven- Vtainer for beverages.

2,766,915 Patented Oct. 16, 1956 tion assembled on an aerosol container shown in dotted outline;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the invention shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view centrally through the valve structure showing one particular form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View similar to Fig. 3, showing a valve structure as used for dairy products and the like; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View through the base of a modified form of the valve.

Referring to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, the valve structure, generally disignated 10, is seated upon an aerosol container, generally designated 11. The container is a steel can of usual manufacture often used as a con- Ordinarily an aerosol packager can purchase the cans from a commercial source. The cans are filled with the ingredient to be dispensed prior to sealing the valve structure in the neck of the can. After filling, the valve structure may be sealed to the can in order to close the interior from the exterior of the can, except through the valve. A gas is then forced through the valve to charge the container and its contents.

The details of connection between the can and the valve structure may best be seen in enlarged View, Figs. 3 and 4. Substantially all of the valve structure is supported on a base herein referred to as a valve housing. This base is securely sealed to the container. In Figs. 3 and 4 the present invention is disclosed having a cupshaped valve housing 2@ and a beaded rim 21. The outermost surface of the rim 22 is curved so that it may be attached and sealed to the top of container 11. The housing 2% serves as a recess for a plastic spout cap, generally Vdesignated 13, and more particularly as a recess for the skirt portion 23 of the spout cap. The lower part of the skirt portion has an annular peripheral holding rib 24. ln seating the spout cap within the Valve housing this rib 2li passes by the beaded rim 21 of the valve housing and nestles below it. The engagement between the rib of the skirt portion 23 and the rim 21 of the valve housing keeps the spout cap and the valve housing securely together. Since the spout cap is composed of a resilient material, such as plastic, a slight upward pressure on one side of the spout cap will allow the rib 24 to pass upwardly by the beaded rim 21, and the spout cap may be removed. The spout cap is further made up of a top closure 2S which, when depressed, discharges the contents of the aerosol container through spout 2&5. An integral protective rim 27 surrounds the top closure to prevent accidental discharge of the aerosol container hy bumping the top of the spout cap. This feature allows the container to be packed in a suitcase with clothes and the like with no fear thatr it may be accidentally discharged.

As previously stated, the valve structure is mounted in and supported by the base portion or valve housing 2t). A sleeve member 28, made of rubber or some similar resilient material, is secured in a bottom opening in the cup-shaped housing 20. This sleeve member has an outwardly extending tiange portion 29 which acts as a seal between the housing and the `sleeve to prevent the escape of pressure from within the container. A small, round, upturned portion 3% around the bottom opening in the housing is embedded in a circular indentation in the sleeve member lying just above the tiange portion 29. This tight tit between the housing and the sleeve member plus the upward pressure from within the container urging the flange portion against the inside of the housing provide a perfect seal about the bottom opening in the housing. The sleeve has a central bore 31 through which a valve stem 32 passes.

Fig. 3 discloses onerform may take. VItrshows a helically-shaped spring 33 which which the present inventionV surrounds the upper portion of the sleeve Yand bears` against a spring bearing member 34 upon the valve stem.-

Thisspring aids in keepingV they valve stem 3Z'in a centered position in addition to urging the valve head 35 toward its seated position.

Fig. 4'shows another form of the present invention. Here there is no Hspring.V VThere is simply a valve stem havingV an upper attened portion 35m which retains the valve within the sleeve while the container being tiiied with gas. This embodiment is particularly useful where `Vdairy products are to be dispensed. The absence of a spring makes it even easier to clean after the spout cap Y is removed. In Fig. 4 the valve head 35 is retained in VYclosed position solely by valveV seating Vpressure from outer end portion of said stem positioned'agains't the outer side of the housing, `the outer end of the spring. being positioned about. an outer fend portion of the stem so that movement ofthe stem into the container unseats the valve from, the valve seat and causes compression of Vthe spring, said compressed spring servingV to urge the'valve into the valveY seat; a spoutacrap*hav-V ing a skirt portion circumscribing the spring and theV outer end portion of they stem, the lower end ofsaid skirt having retaining means for peirnitting the capv to be selectively secured to and removed from the outer side n of the housing, rthe upper end ofthe skirt having a flexible forces the contents through passageway 31 into the chamber'39 formed by the spout cap i3 and the valve housing 2t). Fromthis chamber it passes out spout 26 for use.

as desired.V it is readily apparent that a considerable quantityrof ingredients remains within chamber 3 after usage. The necessity for its removalis likewise apparent.

It the ingredient were soap, it would harden on exposure Y to air. Clogging of the feed passage 31 would render the aerosol container inoperable. If the ingredient were both arise. VApplicants valve structure eliminates both of these problems. Immediately after use the spout cap 13 maybe removed by a slight upward pressure. Then this cap andtheV top Vof the aerosol container around the valve stem can be thoroughly cleansed. When the aerosol container is put away pending later use, it is in the same clean condition as when it was new.

The valve structure of Fig. 5 diers from the structure of Fig. 3 in that the sleeverZ does not have the depending lower portion. cent the surrounding flange r29. Plastic material is used in forming thervalve stem 32 and its valve head 3S. The spring 33 has coils 40 at the top wound tightly about the valve stern,'thus obviating the use of a spring bearing member such as 34 in Fig. 3. The base valve housing 21 is'adapted toV receive the same spout cap i3 as is shown in the other figuresf Y While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims. l Y

I claim: Y

l. A dispensing valve structure for an aerosol container comprising: arvalve housing having an opening, said housing having means for being attached to a container; Va resilient sleeve secured against the inner side of said housing permitting selective sealing of said opentherethrough for guiding and permitting movement of a valve stem therein and a valveseat about said bore on the inner side of said sleeve; a valve member having an elongated stem v.portion extending through said bore beyond the outer side -of 4the housing, said stem having a valve head at an inner portion thereof capable of being seated Vagainst-said valve seat, thus Ipermittingselective sealing of said bore; spring means circumscribing an cream, the problem of cleanliness and clogging would Y The valve seat 37 is formed adja- Y ing in the housing, said sleeve having a bore extending Y top which, when depressed, moves the stem towards the container, depresses the spring, and unseats the valve, thus permitting the contents of the container' to enter the bore, the interior ofthe cap, and to be ejected outr through the spout whichrextends from saidV cap, said spout-cap permitting access to the valve assemblythat extends beyond the outer side of the housing when said cap is removed from the housing to facilitate the ,clean-k ing of exposed surfaces. Y

2. The dispensing valve structure set forth in claiml .wherein the top of the spout-cap has an upstanding wall extending above said top capable of being depressed'independently of the flexible portion, thus preventing Vac-L cidental depression of the iiexible portion which Vwould causerunseating of the valve. f3. VIn an aerosol dispenser: a dispenser container having an opening for receiving a dispensing valve; and a dispensing valve structure for an aerosol container comprising a valve housing having an opening, said housing being securedV to the container at saidropening inthe container; a resilient sleeve secured against the inner side of said housing permitting selective sealing of said opening in Y the housing, said sleeve having a bore extending therethrough for guiding and permitting movement of a valveV stem therein and a valve seat about said bore on the inner side of said sleeve; a valve Vmember havingV an elongated stem portion extending through saidY bore beyond the outer side of the housing, said stem havingl a valve head at an inner portion thereof capable of being seated against said valve seaft,.thus permitting selective Vsealing of said bore; spring means circumscri'bing an outer end portion of said stem positioned against the outer side of the housing, the outer end of the spring being positioned about anouter end portion of the stem so Ithat movement'of the stern into the container unseats the valve from the valve seat and causes compression of the spring, said compressed .spring serving to urge the valve into the valverseat; a spout-cap having a skirt portion Vcircumf Vscribing the spring and the outer end portion of the stem, the lower end of said skirt having retaining means for permitting the cap -to be selectively secured to and re moved from the outer side Vof the housing, the upper end of the skirt` having a exible tcp which, when depressed, moves the. stem towards the container, depresses the spring, and unseats the valve,-thus permitting the contents of the container to enter the bore, the interior of the cap, and to be ejected out through the spout which extends from said cap, ysaid spout-cap permitting Aaccess to the valve assembly that extends beyond Vthe outer side of the housing and the housing when said cap is removed Vfrom the housing to facilitate the cleaningV ofY exposed surfaces. 4. Inan aerosol dispenser: aV dispenser container hav- 1ng an opening for recelvmg a dispensing valve; and a dispensing valve structure for an aerosol container com-V prising a valve housing having an opening, said housing being secured to ythe container at said opening lin the container; Aa 'resilient sleeve secured against ythe inner Vside of said housing permitting selective sealing of saidV openingin the housing, said sleeve having a bore extending i therethrough for guidingfand permitting movement of'a valve stem thereinland 'a valve seat -abOu-tsaid iboreonthe inner side of said sleeve; Ya valve member having au elongated stem portion extending through said bore beyond the outer side of the housing, said stem having a valve head at an inner portion thereof capable of being seated against said valve seat, thus permitting selective sealing of said bore; spring means circumscribing an outer end portion of said stem positioned against the outer side of the housing, the outer end of the spring being positioned about an outer end portion of the stem so that movement of the stem into the container unseats the valve from the valve seat and causes compression of the spring, said compressed spring serving to urge the valve into the valve seat; a spout-cap having a skirt portion circumscribing the spring and the outer end portion of the stem, the lower end of said skirt having securing means for permitting the cap to be selectively retained to and removed from the outer side of the housing, the upper end of the skirt having a exible top which, when depressed, moves the stem towards the container, depresses the spring, and unseats the valve, thus permitting the contents of the container to enter the bore, the interior of the cap, and to be ejected out through the spout which extends from said cap, said spout-cap permitting access to the valve assembly that extends beyond the outer side of the housing and the housing when said cap is removed from the housing to facilitate the cleaning exposed suraces, said top of the spout-cap having an upstandng Wall extending above said top capable of being depressed independently of the ilexible portion, thus preventing accidental depression of the flexible portion which would cause unseating of the valve.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,487,434 Geise et al Nov. 8, 1949 2,514,030 Coyle July 4, 1950 2,543,850 Henricson Mar. 6, 1951 2,565,050 Smith Aug. 21, 1951 2,565,954 Dey Aug. 28, 1951 2,573,624 Svendsen Oct. 30, 1951 2,579,977 Sjolin Dec. 25, 1951 2,615,597 Tomasek et al Oct. 28, 1952 2,624,623 Saacke Jau. 6, 1953 2,697,635 Ivins et al Dec. 21, 1954 

